Extensible shaft.



No. 846,079. PATBNTED' MAR. 5, 19-07.

. y. A'. YOST.

EXTENSIBLB SHAFT. APPLICATION TILE NOV. 7, 1906.

VICTOR A. Y OST, OF OSSINING, NEW YORK.

EXTENSIBLE SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application an November 7,1966. Serial N 342,406.

To all whom it nag concern: Be it known that I, Vro'ron A. Year, a

citizen of the United States, residing in Ossining,in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide anextensibleshaft made in sections of such construction and so Connected that while the two parts will rotate together coinci- 1 dently one part may be moved endwise rela tively to the other part with a minimum amount-of friction to lengthen or shorten the shaft. 1

In carrying out my invention I form a bore or socket in one shaft-section, which receives one end of the other section, and. I em ploy antifriction-balls to key the shaft-sections to ether. These balls are arranged in a suitabI shaped retaining-groove in one of the sections, but extend into a shallower groove in the other section. I a key or feather to connect the shaft-sections for simultaneous rotation, they serve also to largely reduce friction during the endwise adjustment of the shaft.

While a single set of balls is usually suflicient to key the sections together and to sufficiently reduce friction,I may employ one or more additional sets to reduce friction to a greater extent.

My improvements are especially intended to be applied to connect a motoreshaft with a driven shaft used to operate a tool or device requiring endwise as well as, rotary movement. p

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a shaft made in sections and connected in accordance with my invention, one section or member being a driving-shaft Fig. 2 shows a transverse section of the same on an enlarged scale. F ig; 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification. Fig. 4 shows a transverse section of the shaft illustrated in Fig. 3 on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a transverse section ofa shaftof modified construction.

Referring first to Fig. l, the shaft-section A is shown as being formed with a centrally: spaced bore or socket A, which extends from,

one end of the shaft into the same for a dis tance somewhat reater than the maximum slidable' space al owed and which receives cident rotation, I key m means'of a series of ant1fr1ct1on-balls C. useful Improvements in Extensible Shafts,

While acting as of balls I may emp or motor, while the other is a driven shaft.

.tion is further reduced.

the shaft-section B, which latter is free to These balls, while acting efficiently to key the sections together, also reduce largely the 'frictionwhich would occur if an ordinary key or feather .were employed. When the shaft-sections rotate together, the balls do not move in their grooves,- but when one shaft-section moves endwise relatively to the othenthe balls rotate about their own axes and act as any ordinary ball-bearings to reduce friction.

Fig. 2 illustrates moreclearly how the balls are arranged in the shaft-sections. As thereshown, a groove D is formed longitudinally in the section A adjoining the bore thereof. It extends from the outer end of the section .A inward to the end of the socket; but the diameter of the groove is to one side of the .socket, as clearly shown in Fig. 2-that is,

the opening from w to 'y of'the groove D is shorter than the diameter or largest part: of the groove. This is for theipurpose of preventing the balls from falling out into the socket or bore. The halls are inserted endwise into the groove D and are held, therein by means of a cap E. The member B is formed with a longitudinal groove F to receive those portions of the balls which project into the bore A. The section B may be entirely withdrawn from the section A, if desired, and yet the ballswill be retained in proper position in their groove in the section.

A but the section B may be-readily inserted in its socket and when inserted'is locked or keyed in such manner as to rotate with the section A.

Instead of employing a single line or series oya plurality thereof, as

4. In this way fric- Thisv may be desirable when the invention is applied to some indicated in Figs. 3 and classes of machinery requiring anextensible shafting having a very free endwise movement.

Instead of retaining the'balls in grooves formed in the outer or inclosing section of the shaft they may be retained in properlyformed grooves in the inner section in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

I claim as my invention- 1.- An endwise-extensible'shaft comprising two separable 'members one of which is movement while ,dinal-ly, a key directly connecting the two members for coincident'rotation formed of "formed with a formed with a bore orsocket into which the other member fits snugly to prevent lateral being free to slide longiturotatableantih'iction devices, and means for holding saididevides in place, both whilethe shaft membersare'connected and when they are-Se arated. T

2;: .endwise}extensib1e shaft comprising two separable members one of which is bore orsocket into which the other member fits-snugly to prevent lateral movement while, being. free to slide longitu dinally, a key directly connecting;v the two .membersl'for coincident rotation formed of rotatable antifriction-balls, M and means for holding said} balls in place in series parallel with the agrisof the'shaft,' hoth while the shaft members areconnected and when they are aspirated,

endwiseeextensible shaft comprising two. separable members; formed with longitudinal grooves, alongitudinalseries of balls arrangedmsafl grooves bers;-;and a member closing the end of the-groove therein and preventing theballs from moving endwise out of the groove.

, 4. An endwise-ext'ensible shaft comprising two vmembers one fitting within the other,

one of which is formedwith a groove, a longiill ai ,Shaft mem cap on the end of the Outer h ft-,1

tudinal series of balls contained in said groove and the other ofv which shaft members is formed with a, corresponding groove into which the b allsextend, the width of said first-mentionedgroove next the other memher being less than the diameterofxthe balls, whereby the 'balls are prevented from moving laterally out of said :groove'when' the shaft members are separated.

5. An e'ndwise-extensi' two separable members one of' wine is formed with a bore or socket into which the other member fits snugly to prevent lateral movement while being free to slidezlongi-tudi nally, the socketed member of said shaft being formed with aflongitudinal groove open scribed my name.

VICTOR A. YOST. Vlritnesses:

JOHN A.IHAURE, C. B.- OWEN.

ibleshaft comprising 

